The precursor to the actual Pontifical Academy
of Sciences was the Linceorum Academia, which was founded
in Rome in 1603 and which, after some vicissitudes, was named
Pontificia Academia dei Nuovi Lincei by Pius IX in 1847. It
was enlarged by Leo XIII in 1887, and in 1936 it received its
current name from Pius XI. Currently it is the only academy of
sciences of a supranational character which exists in the world.
It has as its scope: to pay honor to pure science, wherever it is
found, and to assure its freedom and to promote its research,
which constitute the indispensable basis for progress in science.
This academy is directly responsible to the Holy Father. It is
composed of 80 academicians who are named by the pope. The
academic body selects names, without discriminating in any way,
among the most illustrious devotees of mathematical and
experimental sciences of every country, and then proposes them to
the pope. Added to these 80 academicians are the "perdurante
munere" academicians, chosen by reason of their office, and
honorary academicians, by reason of their merits towards the
academy.

The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences was
founded by John Paul II in January 1994, with the Motu Proprio
Socialum Scientiarum. Its objective, says Article 1 of its
statutes, is "to promote the study and progress of social,
economic, political and juridical sciences in the light of the
social doctrine of the Church." The academy is autonomous and at
the same time, maintains a very close relationship with the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, with which it
coordinates the planning of various initiatives. Its academicians
are also named by the pope and their number cannot be fewer than
20, nor more than 40. Currently there are 31 members who come from
24 countries throughout the world, without distinction to
religious denomination, and who are chosen for their high level of
competency in some of the diverse social disciplines.

With his Motu Proprio Vitae Mysterium
of February 11, 1994, John Paul II instituted the Pontifical
Academy for Life. Its objectives are the study, information and
formation on the principal problems of biomedicine and of law,
relative to the promotion and defense of life, above all in the
direct relation that they have with Christian morality and the
directives of the Church's Magisterium. To achieve these
objectives, the Vitae Mysterium Foundation was instituted in
October 1994. The academy for life is autonomous and is linked to
the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care
Workers and various other dicasteries of the Roman Curia committed
to the service of life. Seventy members named by the pope, who
represent different branches of biomedical sciences and those
which are closely linked with problems concerning the promotion
and defense of life, belong to the academy.